Page 149 of Burn It Down

I smiled to myself.

After the takedown, my mom had moved into a little house far outside the City of Torvin, one she’d apparently set up for herself and even furnished over the last couple of years. She’d known things were coming to an end because of her contact with Isobel who’d had her ear to the ground on all things. I’d gone to see her a few days afterward when I’d had Asher locate her for me. And she was doing well. She was even seeing a professional recommended by Caleb and she made several trips a week to one of his rehabilitation facilities. She wanted space, though, at least for now. Aside from the therapy aspect, she didn’t want any company or anybody in her space. She hadn’t had the freedom of being alone and unencumbered for years, so I got that she’d want to revel in that now.

And so, we were taking it slowly with that and with rebuilding our relationship.

We’d get there. And when we did, I’d bring her to meet Aurora properly.

Jonah’s situation with his father wasn’t as positive. I mean, Reed had gotten out and everything and he’d shown no signs of coming at us. He’d even sent a congratulatory bottle of champagne to us to celebrate the end of the Infidels. But he couldn’t have a relationship with Jonah beyond something like that. It was too dangerous after what he’d been for so long, where his loyalties had been. But Jonah was content with him being alive and well, and he was actually happier with Reed leaving him be.

My thoughts came to a grinding halt when a ping sounded and a disruption occurred to the chat.

*Lance added to Group Messenger.

Lance: What can I do?

Asher: Stop hacking my system.

Yeah, he’d done it a couple of weeks ago to upload a bunch of photos for Aurora the same day he’d brought over some physical photo albums for her too. He was working overtime to erase all that shit her mom had said to her the night of the Monroe Estate takedown. She hadn’t said much about it, which meant she actually was fine. These days, she’d talk to us if that wasn’t the case. She was all for our full disclosure policy and we’d all made sure we’d upheld it. The one exception was this surprise tonight.

But despite Aurora being fine and having let go of the idea of her mom a long time ago, let alone the fucked-up version of her she’d encountered that night, Lance was still at it. It seemed it was more like him who was having the hard time with it and he was overcompensating with Aurora as a result.

Lance: You’re rushing all over the place, I needed a word.

Jonah: Guys, we’re trying to make peace here, hacking’s not helping, Lan.

Lance: It’s not technically hacking. And it was for a good reason.

Killian: Bad idea using that rationale, remember?

Lance: Apologies. What can I do? We have ten minutes, yes?

Asher: Twenty now. They’re late.

Lance: Why? What’s happened?

Killian: Aurora got her project grade today.

Lance: Ah, I see.

Asher: Set the table. Everything is in a box on the patio. I’m out here setting up a couple more industrial-strength heaters.

Lance: Because it’s several degrees below freezing and snowing, yet you decided to do this outside?

Jonah: Aurora’s got a thing about it.

Killian: She’s gonna love it.

Jonah: Gonna have to suck up the cold for your angel, Lan.

Asher: It won’t be cold in a few minutes, fuckers.

“What’s going on?”

I jolted and looked to see Aurora staring at me with a whole lot of concern.

“What?”

She gestured at my phone in my hand. “You’ve been texting like crazy.”

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